Shorebirds walk off against Greensboro

After winning the College World Series, Baltimore Orioles first-round pick Cadyn Grenier has found a home with the Delmarva Shorebirds at shortstop.
Produced by Richard Pollitt

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A view of Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, home of the Shorebirds, as it looked in 2010.
A view of Arthur W. Perdue Stadium as it looked in 2010. A plan to renovate and upgrade Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, home of the Delmarva Shorebirds, is needed but requires transparency with the public at every stage of the project.
File photo Shorebirds starting pitcher Jesse Beal delivers to the plate on opening night Friday at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salsibury.(Photo: Matthew S. Gunby photo, File photo)Buy Photo

Zach Jarrett hit a walkoff broken-bat single to left field, winning it for the Delmarva Shorebirds 3-2 over the Greensboro Grasshoppers in the bottom of the ninth Friday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

With the game tied 2-2, Mason McCoy worked a full-count walk to keep the inning alive. McCoy then stole second base, and Cadyn Grenier drew a walk of his own. Jarrett came up, and Greensboro reliever fell behind in the count 3-0.

On the next pitch, Jarrett shattered his bat, bouncing the ball in the direction of third baseman Marcos Rivera. The ball glanced off Rivera's glove and skipped into left, which allowed McCoy to score.

Nick Vespi (4-3) got the win in relief for the Shorebirds (17-11, 52-43), giving up a run on two hits over two innings and striking out four. Nester Bautista (1-2) took the loss for Greensboro (13-14, 47-49) after walking McCoy in the ninth before Mertz gave up the winning single to Jarrett.

The Shorebirds got their offense started in the second inning. Branden Becker doubled to right center with one out and advanced to third on a groundout. Kirvin Moesquit then hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Becker. McCoy came up next and hit a double that split the gap in right center, scoring Moesquit to give the Shorebirds an early 2-0 lead.

Cameron Bishop got the start for the Shorebirds and allowed three hits and walked none while striking out a career high-tying eight batters in five innings of work. Greensboro's Colton Hock lasted 4.2 innings, giving up two runs on six hits.

Greensboro found success after Bishop's departure, getting back into the game in the sixth. Thomas Jones led off and got caught leaning too far off first base, but an errant throw from Ben Breazeale sailed into right field, which allowed Jones to move up to third base. Jose Devers came up next and hit an infield single to score Jones and cut the Shorebirds lead to 2-1.

Greensboro had more success against the Shorebirds' bullpen in the eighth. Gunnar Schubert led off with a single, followed by a Jones attempted sacrifice-bunt back to the mound that Vespi fielded but threw into center field, putting runners at first and second. After a Devers bunt attempt turned fielder's choice at third, Tristian Pompery hit a hard chopper up the middle and into center, bringing around Jones to tie it at 2-2.

Vespi bounced back to strike out the side in the ninth, setting the Shorebirds up for their walkoff win.

McCoy finished 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and the game-winning run. Becker added two hits of his own, doubling and scoring in the second.

Jones finished 0-for-3 but scored both Greensboro runs. Schubert added two hits in his team debut.

The Shorebirds look to take control of the series against Greensboro Saturday night. Brenan Hanifee (7-4, 2.56) gets the start for the Shorebirds against Greensboro's Daniel Castano (2-2, 3.24). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 4 p.m. for batting practice. Saturday kicks off Christmas in July weekend. The Shorebirds will wear Christmas-themed jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game. Fans can also bring a new toy to the stadium that will be donated to Brooke's Toy Closet at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in a toy drive presented by Mojo's. Afterwards, fans can enjoy a Q105 Postgame Fireworks Show presented by Market Street Inn and Mojo's. Pregame covererge on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:50 p.m. with Will DeBoer and Drew Williams on the call.